Mariners agree to minor-league deal with right-hander Jon Garland

Veteran pitcher Jon Garland, 33, has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Mariners and has an invitation to spring training, pending a physical.

PEORIA, Ariz. — Jon Garland will be the latest veteran pitcher to attempt a comeback with the Mariners after a prolonged absence from baseball.

The Mariners agreed to a minor-league deal with Garland, 33, on Friday pending a physical that will give him a nonroster invitation to spring training. Garland hasn’t pitched since undergoing shoulder surgery midway through the 2011 season with the Dodgers.

Seattle already has onetime Detroit Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman, 30, invited to camp after not having pitched in the majors since 2010.

Garland began his career with the Chicago White Sox in 2000 and is 132-119 with a 4.32 earned-run average. He was invited to spring training with Cleveland a year ago but never took his physical, and the deal was canceled.

The Mariners will conduct a physical on Garland next week when pitchers and catchers arrive for spring training. The team will also conduct a physical on left-handed starter Joe Saunders, who agreed to a one-year deal for a reported $7 million plus incentives.

The Mariners won’t announce the Saunders deal until the physical is done and they have also made a corresponding 40-man roster move.

A reported five-year, $135.5 million contract extension for Felix Hernandez — due to begin in 2015 — also has yet to be announced as the team irons out last-minute details.

Hernandez told a Venezuelan newspaper he won’t pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic this spring.